Method and apparatus for monitoring telephone status

• US 7,260,201 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Kessman, Marc D., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Tulley, Stephen C., Alderucci, Dean P., Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Dickerson, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAQ, MOHAMMAD AAMIR
• Application Number:
  US11/338,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/32.04, 379/201.01, 37920702-20707
• US Class Current: 379/207.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/609 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/08 ISDN systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

The monitor is for monitoring the status of a first client telephone, and for sending this status information via a central server to an authorized second client telephone. The central server stores a database of registered client telephones and corresponding client telephones that the client may monitor. A user of a registered client telephone monitors in real time the telephone status of registered friends, family, or co-workers that have agreed to be monitored by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a user of a second telephone an indication of a first telephone, in which the user of the second telephone is not authorized to monitor the first telephone;

transmitting to the user of the first telephone a request for permission for the user of the second telephone to monitor the first telephone;

receiving from the user of the first telephone an indication that the user of the second telephone has permission to monitor the first telephone;

receiving a status from the first telephone; and

sending the status to the second telephone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a first identifier that identifies the first telephone and a second identifier that identifies the second telephone; and

sending the first identifier to the second telephone.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying good standing of a customer account of the second telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a first identifier that identifies the first telephone to the second telephone for storage and display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes

a request to notify the second telephone when a status change of a predetermined condition of the first telephone occurs.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing the status change of the predetermined condition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording transmission of the status to the second telephone'"'"'s customer account.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicates whether the first telephone is off-hook.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicates whether a user of the first telephone has entered at least one predetermined DTMF code into the telephone.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgment from the second telephone of a successful transmission of the status.

11. A computer programmed with executable instructions to perform the method of claim 1.

12. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, from a second telephone that is associated with a second user, an identifier that identifies a first user;

receiving an indication that the first user has authorized the second user to receive an indication of a status of a first telephone associated with the first user;

storing an indication that the first user has authorized the second user to receive an indication of a status of the first telephone of the first user;

determining a status of the first telephone that is associated with the first user; and

transmitting an indication of the determined status to the second user.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a request by the second user to receive a status of the telephone of the first user.

15. The method of claim 13, in which the telephone comprises a cellular telephone.

16. The method of claim 13, in which the telephone comprises a wireless telephone.

17. The method of claim 13, in which the telephone comprises a wired telephone.

18. The method of claim 13, in which the determined status indicates that the first user is not available to talk.